Ministry probes death of worker at Taylor Steel

The province is investigating after a worker was killed at an east-end steel company last week.

Regional coroner Jack Stanborough says the cause of death of Christopher Birdsell, 50, has not yet been determined, since forensic and pathology tests have not been completed.

Birdsell, who worked as an electrician for subcontractor COH Inc., a North American custom crane maker and maintenance service, was on Taylor Steel property about 12 metres off the floor when he was fatally injured around 1 p.m. on Friday.

Emergency crews, including seven fire trucks, rushed to the Arvin Avenue plant near Dewitt Road. Firefighters quickly prepared for a high-angle rope rescue, which was called off when the coroner was notified.

Ministry of Labour spokesperson Matt Blajer says a provincial inspector and engineer were sent to the location on Monday. At that time Taylor Steel was ordered "to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances of a worker and determine a method in preventing the cranes from coming close enough to allow the shoes to bridge the isolation gap."

Taylor Steel could not be reached for comment.

Birdsell's wife Denise says her husband's career with COH Inc. spanned 30 years.

"Chris was the safest man I know," she says, noting he was dedicated to his job as an electrician.

She says that outside of work, he enjoyed fishing, both locally and up north. Pictures on the website of Marlatt Funeral Home in Dundas (where Birdsell's funeral will take place Thursday, Aug. 22) show him proudly displaying his various catches, including massive pike.

Denise says they had been married for 22 years, but were together for 33.

"He was a fabulous man and I'll miss him dearly," she says.

Bajer says the Electrical Safety Authority is also helping with the investigation.

The ministry reports there were 39 people killed on the job in Ontario last year.

Ten people had died on the job in the first three months of this year.

Taylor Steel, which has five Canadian facilities and has been in business since 1967, processes and sells flat-rolled steel across North America.

The ministry says they investigated a separate incident at the Arvin Avenue location of Taylor Steel in November 2012, after a worker was injured in a fall from a flatbed trailer.